Fatal Palmer Fire Likely Started By Candle
PALMER (AP) — A fire in a Palmer apartment that took the life of a 53-year-old woman was started by a candle.
Investigators announced Friday that they found evidence of a melted candle where the fire in the basement studio started, and have eliminated all other possible causes.
The victim of Monday's fire, identified as Christine Grinaski, also told a neighbor that a candle had started the blaze, before she succumbed to smoke.
The fire displaced 33 tenants of the 20-unit building. Hard-wired smoke alarms in the common areas activated and alerted residents, but it is unclear if the battery-operated smoke alarms in the individual apartments worked. Many of the smoke alarms not destroyed by the fire were found to have missing or dead batteries.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
